hampshire, state with the first primary and at one point he crossed paths with fellow gop challenger jon huntsman. >> thanks for being here. >> reporter: romney works has been effectively running for president since his unsuccessful 2008 bid took aim at president obama, repeating his stance that the president has made the economy worse. it's a statement that's drawn criticism from the left and from independent fact-checkers. >> president obama did not cause the downturn, but he made the recession deeper and longer than it needed to be, and he has made the recovery anemic. >> reporter: huntsman said out of the fray focusing on making a name for himself just two weeks after officially entering the race. >> this is when people turn out and want to meet some of the early candidates. want to shake your hand and begin to understand what you're all about so this was a must hit opportunity for us. >> reporter: in clear lake, iowa, two other republicans shared the same parade route, newt gingrich and michele bachmann, courting the same key part of the state for conservatives. >> bachmann for pres